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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 8 Hansard (28 October) . . Page.. 2401 ..


ADJOURNMENT

Motion (by Mr Moore) proposed:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Arts Funding

MR WOOD (5.45): Mr Speaker, in a day that has focused on the accuracy of members' statements, let me add to the accuracy of the records here. In the last week of sitting there appeared to be a mini-campaign by the Government to see who was more helpful to the arts, the Government or the Opposition. I want to put something on record here. I think it is best if in the first instance I give a summation of a speech I made in 1994, when I was Minister, about the disbursement of the casino funds. I said:

Recently, I announced the provision of $7m for the ACT Cultural and Heritage Centre to be built in North Building in Civic.

There was a later dispute about that. I said:

This centre is another direct benefit of the casino premium and will provide the Territory with a further opportunity to project its own unique identity. The other significant development in Civic is the Playhouse redevelopment. An amount of $2.3m was allocated in the 1994-95 capital works budget to supplement the allocation of $5m from the casino premium.

Further, I said:

... I announced the allocation of a further $2.75m of the $19m casino premium for regional cultural facilities. The allocation includes $1.75m for a Tuggeranong Community Arts Centre; $0.5m for ... the auditorium at the Canberra Institute of Technology ... for contemporary music performers; and $0.5m for ... Hawker College Theatre ...

Mr Humphries, at the last sitting, cast some aspersions on our intentions about the casino premium. I want to put the facts on the record. I will quote his words and the Chief Minister's words to do so and also to point out the generous and unusual opportunity afforded me to speak at the opening of the Museum and Gallery. I think that in itself says enough. On 21 May the Chief Minister said:

Perhaps our commitment -

to the arts, that is -


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